He was born Jan. 3, 1936, in Murry, Iowa, to the late Robert and Cara Young Kiple. Robert graduated from Pineville High School in Pineville, Mo., in 1954. He served in the army from 1959 -1965. He worked at John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, from 1957-1991. Robert was a member of the Wilson Freewill Baptist Church.

He was a 50 year member of the Masons, in which he was very active.

Robert married Ruth McClain in 1961, they later divorced, then he married Patricia Pitts in 1978.